Attorney to seek injunction against Hotel Clovis sign

An attorney who has demanded the city of Clovis remove a “Save me” sign from Hotel Clovis says it will be Monday before he can seek a court injunction.

Eric Dixon, who said he works for the High Plains Patriots and their treasurer Kim Runyan, submitted a second letter to the city Friday after demands made in his first letter were rejected.

Patriots president Tim Ashley has said Runyan engaged an attorney as an individual and the Patriots’ board has not taken a formal vote to join in legal action.

In the letter Friday, Dixon demanded the city immediately cease distributing a brochure he classifies as advocating the passage of the ordinance, as well as the use of city property to advocate passage of the referendum.

City attorney David Richards said Crozier is acting within his rights to allow the sign on the hotel.

Dixon wrote he remains unconvinced the sign advocating an affordable housing ordinance to be placed before voters Tuesday can be displayed on a publicly-owned building.

Supporters of the ordinance have said the sign was approved by Taos developer Stephen Crozier, who plans to convert the hotel into an affordable housing community.

Richards said Friday he will prepare a response but hadn’t yet had an opportunity to review Dixon’s latest letter.

Dixon said he has been given authority from his client to proceed with a court filing to seek a declaratory injunction against the city, which he plans to do Monday in district court.

After the city commission approved the Affordable Housing Ordinance, the High Plains Patriots collected the required petition signatures to force the issue to a referendum vote Tuesday.